Big Week Begins

Well, what can I say? I think I am about to enter the biggest/scariest week of my life and I don't quite think it has hit home yet.

I have a 16cm mass (tumour) in my left lung, yeah only a small one I know! Tomorrow I have my first biopsy, followed by a PET CT scan at the local cancer hospital (The Christie). 

Everyone around me is so positive that it will be dealt with whereas me, I'm just taking it one step at a time. Until I know exactly what I'm dealing with, I'm not being positive/negative and that makes me think that the reality of what is going on hasn't actually set in yet.

Anyone else currently at this stage? Felling the same? Is it normal?

  • Lpw can I just say that sometimes you guys get it wrong and staying stong can sometimes appear as being distant and withdrawn.

    My husband was relieved when I did break down because it gave him chance to express his feelings we had a good chat and I told him that when I was strong I need him to be strong but when I was down I need him to understand and really when you are down you sometimes dont want someone jollying you along but being understanding and sympathetic and just listening. I am usually the stronger one he is the silent type but it really did help both of us to get through this knowing we could say anything to each other.

    It may be you with the cancer but its a journey your family are going on with you so dont leave them out especially your wife.

     

     

     

  • Thank you River, I completely understand what you mean, and I probably have been distant! I spend a lot of my time being bottled up, even before this as I have been (probably still should be) treated for depression. 

  • Hello Lpw26,

    I see that in the space of just a few hours you have already made lots of forum friends and got some good advice. So I have no doubts you will make lots of friends here.

    As Max rightly pointed out, we do have a page on our website on Talking to Children about Cancer which you can find here.

    We also try to answer the difficult question of How to tell my Child I have Cancer here and the different factors to consider when broaching the subject with them.

    I am sure some of our forum members have been in this position before and that they will have some good tips for you.

    I also wanted to wish you good luck for today's biopsy. Do come back here and let us know how it went.

    Very best wishes and a warm welcome to you on Cancer Chat!

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Good luck for today. I always started my Christies days by checking out the "amazing quotes" thread always gave me a smile. As. Lucy said keep in touch.

  • So, after a week of waiting for results I have now been told that it is not lung cancer as first thought, BUT it is a SARCOMA of the Pleural lining.

     

    Apparently it's very aggressive, and I can expect a long treatment plan involving surgery, chemo, and radiotherapy. 

     

    I will know more next week once I have seen the surgeon and the specialists but at least we now have a name for what we are fighting!

  • Hi LPW,

    Thanks for the update. As you say at least you know what you are dealing with now.
    I hope your meeting with the surgeon goes well.

    Best wishes
    Dave

  • Thank you for letting us know Lpw, although sorry that you didn't get better news.  Rest assured that we will all be here helping you through.  All the best to you and your family x

  • As it turns out I have one of the rarest forms of cancer in the world. Synovial Sarcoma, it affects only 1-3 in every million people and is a really under researched form of cancer.

    My tumour is 19x14x11.5cm so is basically taking up 2/3 of my left lung. 

    The surgeons are discussing my options and I should know by Thursday whether or not they can remove it as surgery is my best option. Without surgery I will be classed as stage 4.